TikTok users in Russia have lost access to some key features of the popular app for an indefinite period. Conducting livestreams and sharing new posts through the app has been suspended on Sunday as one of the tech-related outcomes of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In an official statement, the company maintained that its platform provides an “outlet for creativity and entertainment” as a “source of relief … during a time of war.” TikTok will not completely halt its services in the country, unlike other major tech companies. But the Chinese-owned social media app announced on Sunday that users in Russia will not be able to livestream content or post new videos. But they can still send and receive messages through the app.
“Our highest priority is the safety of our employees and our users, and in light of Russia's new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service in Russia while we review the safety implications of this law,” TikTok said in an announcement on Sunday.
Russia passed a new law on March 4 aimed at media outlets and individuals sharing what the government deems as misinformation on its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Anyone sharing online content that Russian authorities determine to be “fake news” could face fines or even jail time of up to 15 years under the new legislation. Since the new law was passed, foreign news outlets like CNN, ABC News, and the BBC announced they will suspend operations and reporting in Russia to protect their journalists and media crew.
TikTok did not have a specific timeline when livestreaming and posting new videos will be available again in Russia. But the company said it will “continue to evaluate the evolving circumstances.”
Before taking down livestream and new post features, TikTok assured users that it has guidelines and methods in place to detect misinformation being circulated on its platform. The company said it has improved its real-time detection of “harmful content” so it could take the necessary action against posts and livestreams with “unoriginal or misleading content.”
Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash


Anthropic's Mythos AI Model Sparks Emergency Cybersecurity Meeting With Top U.S. Bank CEOs
Lumentum Holdings Rides AI Wave With Order Book Filled Through 2028
OpenAI Addresses Security Vulnerability in macOS App Certification Process
SanDisk Joins Nasdaq-100, Replacing Atlassian on April 20
Apple's Foldable iPhone Faces Engineering Setbacks, Mass Production Timeline at Risk
Alibaba Shares Slide as Jefferies Slashes Price Target Over AI Spending and Business Losses
Samsung Electronics Posts Eightfold Profit Surge Driven by AI Chip Demand
San Francisco Suspect Arrested After Molotov Cocktail Attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's Home
Annie Altman Amends Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
Apple Turns 50: From Garage Startup to AI Crossroads
Bank of America Identifies Top Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Stocks Poised for AI-Driven Growth
China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030
Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s Sparks Global Movement
MATCH Act Targets ASML and Chinese Chipmakers in New U.S. Export Crackdown
Microsoft's $10 Billion Japan Investment: AI Infrastructure and Data Sovereignty Push
Rubio Directs U.S. Diplomats to Use X and Military Psyops to Counter Foreign Propaganda
NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo 



